The year 2024 has come and gone, leaving behind its share of joy, sorrow, and surprises. As it fades into memory, so too must we let go of grudges and animosities that weigh on our hearts. There’s no true renewal in a new year if we carry old burdens within us. Forgetting is a gift, and forgiveness is a blessing we should embrace.
In 2024, I penned nearly 300 articles. Some were exhausting to write, yet a few brought immense satisfaction -- just as a mother treasures the child she labored hardest to bring into the world.
I found joy not only in the act of writing but in the engagement and feedback from readers who resonated with my words. I have never regretted a single piece I wrote, for each carried a part of me, and I am at peace with myself when I create.
New Year beckons, and I anticipate it to be the most rewarding one yet. Each passing year becomes more precious, and the next holds even greater promise. It is up to me to make the time I have left meaningful and joyous. But such joy is impossible if we allow grudges to fester, refuse to forgive, or hesitate to apologize to those we’ve wronged, intentionally or otherwise.
As the New Year unfolds, I wish for health for myself and my loved ones. Above all, I wish for prosperity for my country. I yearn for the Kuwait I’ve always cherished -- the Kuwait of love and peace, where tolerance thrives, and justice prevails. A nation where citizens and residents alike stand as equals before the law, basking in security and fairness.
We must reclaim the glory of our geniuses, the icons of art, and the pioneers of thought who once illuminated our path. They’ve left behind an irreplaceable void, filled now by voices that sow division, fear progress, and resist openness.
It is disheartening that such forces have found platforms in our schools, theaters, and media, while those who once elevated Kuwait in the realms of art, sports, science, and culture have been pushed aside.
Let us revive the Kuwait of nightingales and melody, the Kuwait of smiles and tolerance. Recent days have shown us glimpses of this, as the squares of Mubarakiya, the restaurants of Avenues, and the stadium seats buzzed with the innocent joy of citizens, visitors, and expatriates alike.
The success of the 26th Gulf Football Championship was proof of the happiness that simple openness can bring. No harm came to society -- no walls crumbled, no safety was lost. Instead, we witnessed unity, cheer, and a positive spirit.
The Football Association excelled in organizing the event, and we must build on that success, encouraging more initiatives that bring people together. Events like these are not just celebrations; they are opportunities for mutual benefit -- a true win-win.
The influx of visitors during the championship, the bustling hotels, and the thriving commercial activities revitalized the nation, reminding us of the potential Kuwait holds when it opens its arms.
The only ones who lamented the event’s success were the naysayers -- the crows of darkness who thrive on division and oppose all that is beautiful. But their voices will not define us. Kuwait’s future lies in joy, openness, and embracing the progress that unites us all.
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